Mary Renault Books in Order

Mary Renault is an English writer celebrated for her meticulously crafted historical novels set in Ancient Greece. Her works offer vibrant, fictional portrayals of legendary figures including Theseus, Socrates, Plato, and Alexander the Great, as well as a critically acclaimed non-fiction biography of Alexander. Renault's historical novels are deeply rooted in ancient Greece, encompassing a pair of novels centered on the mythological hero Theseus and a trilogy tracing the life and conquests of Alexander the Great. In her earlier work, The Charioteer, she explores the intersection of love and leadership through the story of two young servicemen in the 1940s, drawing parallels with Plato's philosophical ideals. This novel laid the groundwork for her subsequent focus on male lovers in ancient Greece's warrior societies, allowing her to delve into broader ethical and philosophical concerns while examining the complexities of love and leadership.